PREVIEW: YEOVIL TOWN v. CHELTENHAM TOWN

All you need to know as the Glovers take on Cheltenham Town at Huish Park in Sky Bet League Two.

After getting back to winning ways last weekend at Leyton Orient thanks to Tom Eaves’ second half header, Town will be looking to continue their rise up the table against the newly promoted Robins.

Yeovil were applauded off the pitch at the Matchroom Stadium by all four sides of the ground last weekend, and Darren Way will be looking for more of the same from his side as they look to build momentum in the league.

The fixture will also see former Yeovil manager Gary Johnson return for the first time since leaving in February 2015 - Johnson guided the Green and Whites to three promotions and one FA Trophy title across two spells between 2001 and 2015.

On paper, there’s nothing to separate the two sides with Cheltenham sitting one place above the Glovers on goal difference having both taken seven points from the first eight games.

The Robins have won just once, drawing on four occasions and losing three times – their sole win came on the 27th August, beating Crewe Alexandra 2-0 at home.

Last time out, Johnson’s side lost 3-2 at home to Notts County with Danny Wright and Harry Pell on target for Cheltenham.

The Gloucestershire Club are back in the Football League after just one season in the National League. Cheltenham were crowned champions after amassing 101 points and finishing 12 points ahead of second-placed local rivals Forest Green Rovers.

Two of their key players from their promotion campaign last season are still at Whaddon Road – Dan Holman won the National League’s Golden Boot with 30 goals, whilst Wright netted 22 times collecting 11 assists along the way.

Holman is an injury doubt for the Robins, but could make his return from a foot injury at Huish Park on Saturday.

Head-to-head

The two sides haven’t come together in the last three seasons with Yeovil in the Championship and League One before Cheltenham were relegated to the National League prior to the Glovers returning to League Two for the 2015/16 season.

Town have won three of the 11 competitive meetings between the two sides, with their last victory coming in March 2008 when a goal from Andy Kirk and an Alan Wright own goal saw Yeovil claim a 2-1 win at Huish Park.

Last time out, the Robins saw off Yeovil 1-0 thanks to a second half Frankie Artus strike at Whaddon Road in April 2009.

Referee

Graham Salisbury (Lancashire) will take charge of Saturday’s meeting at Huish Park, officiating his first match involving the Glovers since December 2015.

On that occasion, only four players went into the referee’s notebook with Matt Dolan picking up Yeovil’s solitary yellow card.

Mr Salisbury also took charge of Yeovil’s last game in the Championship at home to Middlesbrough in May 2014, with just three bookings in that match including two for Town.

On Saturday, Mr Salisbury will be assisted by Andrew Laver (Hampshire) and Adam Matthews (Gloucestershire) with Mark Derrien (Dorset) taking on the role of fourth official.

Coverage

Minute-by-minute updates will be provided on our official Twitter account which can be found here, with additional updates available via our official Facebook page.

If you’re unable to attend the game a full match report will follow on ytfc.net at full-time with post-match reaction from manager Darren Way and a member of the playing staff following soon after.